Gay pride march scheduled for September

Upstate Pride march organizers have secured a huge corporate sponsorship and have moved the fourth annual event to late September to avoid potentially record-breaking temperatures and humidity.

General Electric's (GE) Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally (GLBTA) Alliance chapter in Greenville will sponsor the community stage for the Upstate Pride march and festival, which will be held in late September this year. The chapter has committed $3,500 to sponsor the stage, said Jeff Caywood, global co-chairman for GE GLBTA Alliance.

So far, Upstate Pride has raised $6,300 of its $11,000 event goal. Funds raised will be used to offset expenses such as insurance, city-issued permit, security, entertainment, decorations, an event guide and postage. "There are other events in Columbia and Charleston, but we're the only one in this area and we're going four years strong," said Upstate Pride President Kel Henry said. "Our entire board is extremely excited about the event and we think it will be bigger and better than ever."

Henry said the GE GLBTA Alliance sponsorship is a momentum builder and could lead the way for other companies and groups to lend their support.

GE Greenville is home to the largest gas turbine manufacturing plant in the world and employs about 3,000 people.

The primary function of the alliance chapters -- or employee resource groups -- in manufacturing facilities worldwide is to provide employees with leadership opportunities and access to senior leaders, but there are also opportunities for community service, which includes participation in Pride events, Caywood said.

"We have a long history of supporting our affinity and employee resource groups at GE, and this sponsorship gives us a great venue to demonstrate our commitment to diversity, and in particular to our GLBT employees," Caywood said in a statement.

The Upstate Pride march and festival attracted about 2,000 people last year, but Henry said she expects even more people to participate this year due to a greater presence on social media. She expects between 2,500 and 3,000 people this year.

Upstate Pride has secured supporters on Facebook, and because it's the Upstate's only Pride march and festival, Henry said people come from other counties, North Carolina and Georgia to attend.

Moving the march and festival from June to Sept. 22 should also help alleviate the primary complaint from attendees last year.

"The biggest complaint we had last year was that it was so hot," Henry said.

Henry said the march will likely follow last year's route, and the festival will remain in Barnet Park.